I would have thought that after a thousand years of brooding Luna would not be so quick to forget the banishment.I think that Celestia acted to save her subjects, but Luna clearly acted on her jealousy and rage.After a thousand years of isolation with nothing but those thoughts it's no wonder Nightmare Moon was so unreasonable. That sort of resentment does not go away easily.Poor Celestia It's a hard decision, to banish your kin. No matter how necessary and how many lives it saved it must have torn her up inside.

Addendum: I've never understood why people think that Luna would champion a Republic, since that implies at least a level of democracy. Luna seems like she'd strictly follow tradition, and a Republic seems very different from the Monarchy that I assume Equestria was run under for such a long time (and still seems to be). In fact, Nightmare Moon dubbed herself as a Queen, and even if you don't think Nightmare Moon was the same entity as Luna, then at the very least you must admit it fed off her desires. So the notion of a "Lunar Republic" does not make sense to me. If any of the princesses were likely to champion a democratic form of government I would wager it would be the younger ones - Twilight and Cadence rather than Celestia and Luna.

The first thing that comes to my mind when I see this is, wow. The way everything in this picture is set is just wow. The shadowing, and lighting sets the somber mood instantly of Luna's betrayal. The way you have styled the ponies is perfect for the way this picture was meant to be set. The technique you used for the light shining around Luna and her eyes draw your own towards that area.

This picture is amazingly well done and I wish I could give you more stars for this excellent work. This is an instant favorite of mine.

I think the stunned look on Twilight's face perfectly describes her shock. The look on Celestia's makes her seem like she is thinking, "Oh no, please don't let it be Luna, please no, let this be a dream." I love the glowing eyes, it really helps the idea of Luna wanting power or being powerful.

I love this picture, it is incredibly amazing how you drew it to show what is happening, but there is some mystery, like 'what did Luna do?'. The lighting and shadowing reflect the horror of the scene. Overall, I think this is an absolutely great picture. Really, I wish I could give you SIX OR MORE stars for each.

Luna seems like a goddess when you illuminate her in the doorway like that; as well the glowing eyes also contribute to this idea.

Luna: YOU PISSED ME OFF FOR THE LAST BUCKING TIME.Twilight: No!Celestia: T-Twilight...Twilight: Yes...?Celestia: Eat the rest of the butter for me...Twilight: I will Celestia... I will...Celestia: Oh, and also, I found your porn.Twilight: .....CELESTIA DAMNIT.

I like current Luna, not Nightmare Night. Nightmare Night was totally wrong. I understand why she got upset and snapped, but she was young and very wrong. But when you compare her current actions to Celestia's.... >I think a group of teenagers/children should go stop this guy it took both my sister and I, who are gods compared to you common ponies, with the help of the elements of harmony, to simply banish for a thousand years. >Well, while you're sitting there, eating cake and growing the royal flank, I'm going to go help my citizens by providing sagely advice in their dreams.

Celestia is the one governing Equestria. She keeps it running smoothly, sets up trade to keep the country running, and actually goes around earning respect by being a Princess.Unlike Luna she doesn't throw tantrums and threaten to upset the natural order on a whim, or cancel a national holiday just because ponies are afraid of her. Yet Celestia is still the bad one? That makes no sense.

The elements of harmony did change their bearers, remember, you can't just go using their power willy nilly. The mane six are the bearers, thus they are the ones who have to use it, we've already seen that the power of the elements easily outmatches anything else, and its specific purpose is to defeat evil. Why would you *not* send those who wield the most powerful force known in Equestria to defeat these threats, especially when they've proved capable in the past? At least Celestia gives guidance to them.

well, if you are old fashioned and the would around you was new, if you had to stand every bloody day of your eternal life on the shadow of the first born child, if you had to return and everyone believes you are a monster that could not control itself, to know that the monster you used to be destroyed lives, you might had at least an idea of what is it like for luna to return to the modern life.

Even though celestia send twilight to ponyville instead of allowing her to help but nope instead she turned twilight and five other ponies into nothing but weapons to use and the only reason the elements of harmony are powerful is that the enemies are weak and predictable.

That not true I mean since there hero's they made them look like there strong Twilight is the only one I would see being able to have a fighting chance on her own while if each one of them where to fight a more experienced villain then the bug queen that will root out the weak so it will show who's the strongest.

Well, Empire doesn't necessarily mean it expands forcefully. An Empire is just a collection of states or countries under supreme command. That kind of makes sense when you consider that Equestria is formed from 3 distinct nations ruled by the princesses.But still, Solar Empire is nearly as bad as the Lunar Republic. I don't think either of them are quite accurate.

Dang, I see you're getting practically attacked by the comments. I think it's an awesome concept, one thousand years of hatred and jealousy doesn't just go away. Luna could totally still nurse a grudge against Celestia, the subjects of Equestria, and probably Twilight. I never bought into Nightmare Moon being an entirely separate entity from Luna.

The composition is nice too, very effective. Not to pimp my own work, but I've got a piece that explores animosity between a resurrected Nightmare Moon and Twilight right here: lopoddity.deviantart.com/art/Y…

I'm not a normal person, and you still don't get it, did you pay any attention to what I said, the idea is Nightmare Moon is evil, not Luna, Nightmare Moon is her jealousy and hatred taking over Luna's body, Luna herself would do no such thing, but Nightmare Moon would, the only thing they shear is the body, but the mined and motive is as different as Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

the comics revealed a force called the nightmare force, a corrupt magic of the night. jealous and depressed, luna made a devil's contract with the nightmare force, hoping it would allow her to garner the affection of her subjects. however as with any devil's contract ,it turned array, and she became possessed by the nigthmare force. ngithmare moon was the result, and she became a creature not truly in control of her own actions. ultiamte the blame lies in her accepting the deal.